Las Vegas – The UNLV Rebels will practice today – Thursday – at City National Arena – and then will head for their biggest games of the season, taking on Ohio University, a ACHA D1 power for years on Friday and Saturday nights at Bird Arena.

“After practice around 3 pm we will get on a flight and head to Columbus, Ohio. We will have dinner there, stay overnight and then get onto a early-morning team bus on Friday to Athens, Ohio. We will have a pre-game skate there and then get ready to play.”

UNLV, in its first season of ACHA D1, has played strong teams already – like ASU, Colorado and a feisty mean-spirited Utah club. But they do not have the historical firepower and glory of Ohio University.

Take a look at this:

OHIO UNIVERSITY

ACHA D1

2012-13 – 26-8-2

2013-14 – 26-7-4

2014-15 – 26-7-0

2015-16 – 27-8-0

2016-17 – 23-7-0

2017-18 – 4-2-0

UNLV, with coaches Greener and Nick Robone, have constructed their best team ever. And goalie Ben Giesbrecht, who did not play in that ultra heated game with Utah last Saturday night, is available for the weekend series vs Ohio University. So far, Big Ben has been unbeatable.

Ohio U is ranked #5, UNLV #14

Coach Greener said “it’s going to be a tough go without two of our top guys (in scraps vs Utah) but this is why we recruited such a deep roster. It’s time for our players to step up and have an impact. Me, I have nothing but faith in them.